Child welfare involvement for families engaged with Partnership for Strong Families (PSF) Family Resource Centers (FRC) significantly reduced, according to a five-year study of the organization’s services.  

Two data scientists and a UF statistician conducted the internal study funded by a Children’s Bureau grant on four FRCs from October 2019 to September 2024.  

PSF’s four centers include Gainesville’s SWAG Family Resource Center, Library Partnership Resource Center and Cone Park Library Resource Center, as well as the NorthStar Family Resource Center in Lake City. 

The researchers surveyed 169 families who came into the FRCs with previously open Department of Children and Families (DCF) cases, including valid phone calls to the Florida Abuse Hotline or removal of children for foster care, between 2015 and 2023.   

The study tracked trends in select child welfare system outcomes, such as the rate of verified maltreatment and out-of-home placements, and trends related to child welfare system involvement prior to and following engagement with FRC services. 

Researchers found a direct correlation between families previously involved in DCF cases not reentering the child welfare system following engagement with FRC services. 

According to a press release, the most critical findings pointing to more children staying safe with their families instead of entering the foster care system included: 

• 98.6% reduction in out-of-home placement 
  Pre-FRC engagement: 20 patrons with 51 children were involved in removals. 
  Post-FRC engagement: Only one removal occurred involving one child.  

• 65% reduction in alleged maltreatments investigated 
  Pre-FRC engagement: 7.78 allegations per patron. 
  Post-FRC engagement: 2.74 allegations per patron. 

• 64% reduction in screened-in hotline calls 
  Pre-FRC engagement: 2.18 calls per patron. 
  Post-FRC engagement: 0.78 calls per patron.  

“Our Family Resource Centers are founded on the principle that strong families are not meant to stand alone,” said Pebbles Edelman, PSF chief of clinical and community services in the release. “They need hope and can thrive when they have access to meaningful connections, community resources and consistent encouragement.” 

The release also stated that FRC feedback from patrons described the FRCs as “safe,” “calming,” and “nonjudgmental,” highlighting services such as parenting classes and tutoring to emotional support, job assistance and food security services. They referred to FRC staff as being “like family,” offering personalized, culturally responsive care rooted in respect and trust.  

Amanda Rodriguez Demaria, PSF Director of Development and Engagement, told Mainstreet she hopes the results of the survey help keep PSF’s work at the FRCs going and growing.  

Because PSF only receives state funding for foster care services, she said the organization needs community support to keep the FRCs alive. Rodriguez Demaria also said she hopes the numbers inspire other communities to embrace the resource center model.  

“We would love to see other communities that we serve embrace the concept of the resource center and help us to fund it,” she said. “It’s all community-based funding.” 

PSF is a community-based care agency for Florida Judicial Circuits Three and Eight, including Alachua County, serving more than 5,000 children in 13 counties annually. 

DCF contracts PSF to deliver comprehensive child welfare services to children who are victims of abuse and neglect. PSF also works with at-risk families to prevent child abuse and to decrease the risk of children entering the foster care system.